Author's note: The title of Act I translates to "In the shadows, there is power." It is an inscription commonly found on Sith holocrons in the Star Wars universe.

Act I

In Umbris Potestas Est

Chapter 1

Questions Without Answers

The two Jedi approached the crime scene, now swarmed by observers and reporters pushing against the underworld police officers attempting to keep them out of the scene. One of the officers saw the Jedi approaching him and walked to meet them. "Jedi. This way, please." He led Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon through the crowd and the barriers that blocked off the scene, as the Jedi got their first glimpse of the crime scene. A Twi'lek male lay face-up on the ground in the street and a human male facedown in the nearby alleyway. Both were wearing civilian clothing. Crime scene investigation droids motored across the street, scanning possible pieces of evidence and marking the area around the bodies. One of the CSI droids came up to the Jedi. "Good evening, Jedi." "Good evening. I am Master Qui-Gon Jinn and this is my apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi." Obi-Wan nodded in greeting to the droid. "What happened here?"

"A shooting. Victims are one human male and one Twi'lek male. Cause of death for both was a blaster shot to the head, apparently fired from long range. An autopsy will be performed to confirm this. Witnesses report that the Twi'lek victim was killed first as he stood with the other victim in the street, and the human victim was subsequently killed as he ran for cover."

"Do you know their names?"

"Yes. The Twi'lek victim is one Figaro Leet. A Jedi Master. Known affiliates are Anti-Gang Unit, Coruscant Security Force, and Jedi Order."

Obi-Wan felt a pang of sadness in his master at hearing Leet's name.

"The human victim is one Inspector Clooso of the Coruscant Security Force. Known affiliates are Anti-Gang Unit, Coruscant Security Force, and Jedi Master Figaro Leet."

"Thank you. May we see the crime scene for ourselves?"

"Yes, you may, Jedi."

The droid followed the Jedi as they approached Leet's corpse. His face was frozen in surprise, and a small hole was burned into his forehead. Qui-Gon knelt by the body and twisted the head sideways, revealing that its back had been completely blown out. Obi-Wan grimaced at the gruesome sight, but he sensed nothing but sadness from his master. He reached out through his Force bond. Was he close, Master?

Yes, Obi-Wan, he was.

Qui-Gon's shields came up, signaling to his apprentice that he did not wish to communicate any further. Qui-Gon rose and stepped away from his fallen friend, walking towards the body of Inspector Clooso in the alleyway as Obi-Wan followed. Clooso lay halfway between the alleyway and the street, and even Obi-Wan could tell how he died. He must have seen Master Leet fall and then attempt to get out of the line of fire. Unfortunately, he wasn't quick enough for whoever killed him. Clooso's head was turned to the right, revealing the gaping exit wound from the shot that killed him. So the shooter must have had a view down the street, looking from the direction we just came in from. The major traffic lanes are there, so it makes sense. He probably had a speeder or other getaway vehicle parked there, or maybe even an accomplice waiting to pick him up. Now we just have to figure out where the shooter was when he fired.

Excellent analysis, my young Padawan.

Obi-Wan turned in surprise to Qui-Gon, who was examining Clooso's body. A quick glance told him all he needed to know. He was paying attention to me all along.

Obi-Wan, I think we've seen all we can. Let's get out of here. I'll make sure the droids have all the evidence secured.

Understood, Master.

Qui-Gon walked over to the lead CSI droid, and enquired about the evidence while Obi-Wan kept analyzing the scene, looking for potential firing points on the rooftops. There are many of them. Too many for me to determine which one the shooter was on. Then, he overheard part of Qui-Gon's conversation with the droid.

"Do you have his lightsaber?"

"Yes, Master Jedi."

"Good. Hand it over."

"Master Jedi, I am not permitted to hand over evidence…"

"That's an order. Give it to me."

"Very well."

The droid reached into a compartment within his body and handed Leet's lightsaber to Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon gripped it tightly, and Obi-Wan felt a brief flash of anger in his master, gone as suddenly as it had appeared.

Qui-Gon looked up at his apprentice, realizing that Obi-Wan had felt his anger. He didn't need to see that. But…but I will find whoever did this. I will find him, and bring him to justice. Not out of revenge, but out of duty. Figaro never would have wanted me to succumb to the dark side over his death. "Let's go, Padawan."

"Yes, Master."

The two Jedi met up and pushed their way through the crowd beyond the barriers, leaving the droids and the police to finish scrubbing the scene and send Master Figaro Leet to the coroner's scalpel.

Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon walked into the Jedi Council chamber, seeing that the Council's members had all arrived and taken their seats to hear the bad news. Both Jedi could feel the somber mood amongst the Council's Masters, who barely registered them as they stepped to the center of the room. Only Master Yoda could keep his eyes on them. Qui-Gon spoke, calmly but with a twinge of grief in his voice.

"Masters, I regret to inform you that Master Figaro Leet is dead. I have brought his lightsaber back."

Qui-Gon held out the lightsaber, while the Masters simply watched. Several seconds later, the lightsaber slowly drifted from his hand towards Yoda's. The lightsaber hit Yoda's palm with a final, dull thud, and Yoda's fingers closed around the weapon.

"Missed sorely, he will be."

The room remained silent for several more seconds, until Yoda spoke up.

"Discovered any clues, have you?"

"We met with the police, Master Yoda. We went over the crime scene, and my apprentice did some analysis. He can give you the details."

All eyes turned to Obi-Wan as he cleared his mind, focusing on what he had observed.

"Master Leet was killed by a sniper on one of the rooftops, along with a police inspector that was with him at the time. Judging by the entry and exit wounds on their bodies, the shots were fired from the direction of the main traffic way, from where Master Qui-Gon and myself entered the scene after we arrived. The sniper probably used this angle so he could be close to an escape route, either a parked speeder or an accomplice waiting to extract him. Both Master Leet and the inspector were wearing civilian clothes, which suggests the two were involved in some sort of clandestine meeting at the time of their deaths. Master Qui-Gon and myself were informed that both Master Leet and his companion were involved in some sort of anti-gang operation for the Coruscant Security Force."

"The Anti-Gang Unit. Master Leet worked in close concert with them for many years."

"Yes, Master Windu."

"And do you think this murder is gang-related, Obi-Wan?"

"Possibly, Master Windu. Given the level of his involvement, Master Leet certainly made many enemies among Coruscant's underworld. Still, that is just a theory. There hasn't been enough analysis of the evidence yet to determine who might have killed him."

"Then we shall wait, and let the evidence speak for itself."

"Obi-Wan and I will stay in contact with the CSF. We'll send updates to the Council as we receive them, Master Windu."

"Very well, Master Qui-Gon."

"Members of the Council, have anything else to say, do you?"

No sound came from any of the other Masters.

"Then take your leave you may, Master Qui-Gon."

Qui-Gon bowed and turned to exit the room. Obi-Wan bowed as well, and followed his Master out. Once the two had exited the chamber, the Council members began talking amongst themselves.

"Now, all we can do is wait."

"What a tragedy. He brought such hope to the denizens of the lower levels."

"Right you are, Master Sifo-Dyas. A cruel and shocking act, this is. But who is behind it, I wonder?"